Remember Landvik's, Patti Jane’s House of Curl? Funny, sassy female characters that you enjoy in part because they make you feel good about being female and in part because they make you feel good about being human! Landvik is adept at getting to the quick of human emotions and motivations and providing fun along the way. This one starts out with Caro Dixon, who is rich, drunk, sarcastic and always in the tabloids that chew her up like she was a piece of toast. Well, she often IS toasted... After she decides she's hit bottom with the alcohol she checks into a clinic to battle the addiction. During her treatment the only two people who respond to her "making amends" letters are Astrid, her former Norwegian nanny, and an Arizona rancher, Cyril. Cyril and his now deceased wife, Cassie, had hosted Caro when she was 14yrs. old at his southwest ranch during the sad tender time her father was dying. Rather than repeat herself Caro starts to email both of them at the same time and they all get to know one another through the emails. Landvik knows how to flesh out her characters so even though the emails are short we learn a great deal about each character. Why Caro started drinking in the first place and what is really behind the drunken misbehavior. Why is Astrid practically hiding on an island off the southern coast of Norway and will Cyril ever heal from his all consuming grief over his beloved wife's passing? There are surprises and lots of heartwarming holiday cheer to be found here. I particularly enjoyed Cyril's down to earth, cowboy common sense and humor. Below is the recipe for a book where every dangling story line gets tied up like the prettiest bow on a Christmas gift! | 'Tis The Season!: A Novel Reserve It! | Lorna Landvik's Holiday Recipe for Fun Take a gunny sack and add: 1part rattlesnake 2 parts Arizona dessert 1part grieving cowboy 1part drunken celebrity 3 parts love, support and the True meaning of Christmas Shake until done. Enjoy! | |